482 – CR-Z is a striking car – for all the right reasons

THIS striking Honda CR-Z turned up outside the Business Car Manager offices yesterday (pictured left). I’ve got it for three days to road test.

It’s an intriguing car – a spitirual successor to the Honda Civic-based roller skate CRX (not that horrible targa top abomination Honda foisted on us later), which was a complete hoot to drive (pictured below left). Except that this CR-Z is different: it’s a hybrid.

Which is important. It’s the first time we’ve seen a hybrid wrapped up in a body shape that’s attractively rakish rather than purposefully dull in a serious green-thinking way – as if, until now, those of us who were interested in hybrids weren’t interested in design.

Due to parking restrictions, I popped it around the corner. When I went to collect the car later yesterday evening, one of the neighbours came over to question me about it.

“I’ve been admiring that Honda, it’s a great colour,” she said (which it is, incidentally, Horizon Tourquoise Pearl for those of you who are interested). “I’ve got a Prelude, oh it’s about 10 years old,” she continued. “But it’s been so reliable. I’ve ‘converted’ two other people in the road to Hondas – and they’ve all been reliable, too. So what’s this one then?”

I explained that it was the new CR-Z. A coupe with a hybrid powertrain. Which then led me into a conversation about hybrids – what they were and how batteries assisted the engine for improved economy (over 50mpg) and lower CO2 emissions. For company car drivers this means a company car tax band of 10%, rising to 14% in 2012/13 – in other words, very little tax.

It was an interesting meeting. Not least because of the lady’s enthusiasm and more importantly the reaction the CR-Z engenders. It’s a striking car, love it or loathe it.

That was the reaction of my son, Matt. He liked the CR-Z because it was visually provocative – both outside and inside the cockpit.